40 THE NEW BARKER 
Lola, an eight-year-old recently embarked on a sleep-
over with her go bag bulging with a comfy blanket, 
snacks and toys to keep everyone amused.  However, 
Lola’s overnight adventure was a tad out of the ordi-
nary since a few common elements were missing: 
popcorn, girls-a-giggling and mani-pedis.  That’s 
because Lola, a mixed breed dog and temporary resi-
dent at SPCA Florida (Lakeland) departed from the 
shelter for a two-night stay with Olivia Anderson and 
Ben Richardson, participants in the Canine Sleepover 
program. 
        “We were grieving the loss of Lambo (their shel-
ter adoptee) and wanted to fill the void,” Olivia said.  
She and Ben wanted to offer a senior dog an oppor-
tunity to experience life away from the shelter. 
        SPCA Florida laid the foundation for its sleep-
over policy in 2024, an innovative idea brought to the 
forefront at a Best Friends Animal Society (Kanab, 
Utah) conference. 
        Deb Parker, Dogtown Volunteer Coordinator at 
Best Friends, advises prospective adopters to weigh the 
dos and don’ts of sleepovers.  Informational videos 
advocating a safe and rewarding interaction between 
dogs and people leads to successful adoptions.  
Sleepover Successes 
Skyrocket at Shelters
by Patricia Misiuk
She Fit In So Well – For Olivia and Ben, the decision to adopt Lola 
was a gradual process, as they weighed the pros and cons of welcoming her as a 
permanent member of their family.  
Sleepover Success Stories 
“We believe every dog deserves a break from the shelter environment and a 
chance to shine,” Kubec says. “These extended programs are helping us 
make that a reality.” 

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.